Growth Rate of the Barberry

Species of Barberry

• Three common types of barberry include Japanese barberry, wintergreen barberry and Mentor barberry. Japanese and Mentor barberries are deciduous shrubs reaching up to 6-feet high and 7-feet wide at maturity. Wintergreen barberry is evergreen and grows to 10 feet high and wide.

Growth Rates

• According to the Clemson University Home and Garden Information Center, wintergreen barberry grows slowly at a rate of 12 to 18 inches per year. Japanese barberry, the most common type for landscape purposes, grows at a moderate rate of 1 to 2 feet per year. Mentor barberry is the fastest grower with an annual growth rate of two feet.

Controlling Growth

• The mature height of barberry shrubs varies by cultivar. Choosing plants with mature height, function and location in mind eliminates the need for excessive pruning. Clemson University horticulturists suggest shearing formal hedges one or more times per year and revitalizing overgrown shrubs by cutting them back severely in late winter.